Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1887-09-26
THE WHITE CROSS.

THE WHITE CROSS.
Meeting for Organization and Address.
e Upon the subject by the Dlvines
of Yankten.
The meeting OF the men of Yankton OF
Christ church last evening was one Of
the most interesting assemblies ever held
in u city. Nearly q hundred men OF
sterling worth to the CITY gathered there
at s O'Clock to discuss the white cross
movement, which has come into promi-
nenee IN this city. The meeting was
opened by brief religious exercises
after which addresses upon Che differ
emit passages in the white cross pledge
we're made.
Rev. O. 81. Bohn presided, and opened
the discussion with a statement Of the
object OF the meeting IS being TO con-
slider q nov which had begun to reYolu-
%tionize the social world. He spoke of
England, where the laws of purity, con.
troll alike the poor and the rich, and
make 40 distinction between persons.
After these remarks, Rev. d. F. Bred
ley took up the first topic of the pledge,
"to treat all women with respect
"Impurity prevails all over the world,'
said the speaker, "aad I
heartily wish that we of the west
had it to cope with alone. In fact the
east is the nest of impurity, and 1t ia
only by the hardest work and trust in
God that the sin will ever be overcome
Mr.. Bradley spoke srdently and his re-
marks produced q decided impression.
Dr.. Jos. Ward next took up the clause,
"to endeavor to put down all indecent
language and coarse i%ests." Upon this
topic DR.. Ward spoke most earnestly say
ing that he advocated the adsge that no
man became all at once thoroughly pure
and that one effectual means OF putting
down the sin Of impurity was to check
it In youth. A boys thoughts are or.
iginslly pure, and he is 10th to forsaks
them, but association with people and
matters vile, causes him to lose self re-
speot and respect for others, and he
reputation leaves him little by little.
These and many other interesting
thoughts were uttered by DR.. Weird.
Prof. John T. Shaw was the next
speaker and he chose that clause in the
pledge which provides for the .mainte-
nance of the Law Of purity as. equally
binding upon men and women.
he opened by saying: GAN offences
known to the Law make no distinction
between the offenders, be they men
or women. Women who are iorgers OF
who commit perjury or murder or any
other crime are held responsible for the
same rs men. Society makes no distino.
ton between offenders against its laws,
and yet q man who with q woman coma
mits the SIN OF imparity is allowed to
continue IN society. while the women is
cast out upon the world and is forever
doomed. The man ave comes to your
door, rings the bell and asks to see your
daughter and is admitted, but the wo'
man ID not suffered to even clean away
the mud which that man carried on his
boots to your doors. Tt is said that the
houses of i'll fame are homes of refuge
inasmoch as ruined women oan
find no employment and are
ostracised from ell respectable
houses and must have o home, and
blame society for this, if this is the
truth. If these houses are as we blame
them, dens OF vice and iniquity, then the
inmates are worthily ostraoised and &C
ought to be the men that sinned witt
them" Prof. Shaw's remarks were very
strong and were listened to with rep
attention.
Bishop Hare next %discoursed upon tn.
last clause Of the pledge which announces
Gan endeavor to spread these principles
among my neighbors and to help m.
younger brothers, and by my living Il
illustrate the motto, keep thysel
pure."' Brhop Hare pronounced th,
, movement fundamental OF all life an,
] purity, and made q brief but very in
teresting address, couehed in beautifu
. language. He touched upon his topi
) with every word and was given the bes
OF attention.
After the last speaker had finished tn
= pledge was circulated for associate mem
q bers and seventy-fiye or more signer
a were secured. The membership will in
Guide active members end honoraryImen
q bers and associate memberships. o
. Friday night next the organization wi
be perfected and officers elected.